STRUCTURE

OUR STRUCTURE

The Mississauga Youth Orchestra (“MYO”) was established in February 1984. The MYO offers young musicians a chance to participate in performing orchestral music. The orchestra now performs three or four public concerts each year at the Mississauga Living Arts Centre (LAC) and participates in some national and provincial youth orchestra festivals. The MYO is proud to be part of Mississauga’s vibrant artistic community. The MYO is open to talented musicians aged 10 to 21, in Mississauga and neighbouring communities. The activities of coaching young musicians in the art and discipline of the orchestral tradition are overseen by a professional coaching staff, a manager and a volunteer board.

The MYO encompasses two separate and distinct groups:

Symphony – includes the full range of symphonic instruments. It provides opportunities for experienced young musicians to explore a wide choice of orchestral repertoire.

The MYO strives to be “The premier Mississauga-based youth orchestra, enriching life through music.” The MYO mission is “to create a dynamic environment for young musicians; to strive for excellence in music and to contribute to the cultural life of our community.”

Funding

The MYO is a registered charity and is funded through fees (with a limited number of bursaries available), fund raising activity and through corporate and private sponsorships and donations. Please see Support Network for further information.

Annual week-end retreat for musical study, fun and connecting with other musicians

Three or four major concerts at Mississauga’s Living Arts Centre

Participation in youth orchestra festivals and workshops

Our Mayor says:I would like to congratulate the Mississauga Youth Orchestra for their outstanding performance last Sunday evening. As Mayor of the City of Mississauga, I am most proud to have an organization of this calibre in the City and I value greatly the talent and dedication of your performers. The Mississauga Youth Orchestra is to be congratulated for helping to promote the arts in our community and for fostering an appreciation of music among our youth. – Hazel McCallion, Mayor – May 8th 2002. (after attending MYO concert April 28th 2002)

Recent Highlights

Hosted the 1999 Orchestra Canada Youth Orchestra Festival

Performance with Dr. David Suzuki and the Mississauga Youth Theatre

Participation in the Canadian Youth Orchestra Festival, Kingston

Performances with the Mississauga Symphony

Performance with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Youth Orchestra

Performance with the Huntsville Youth Orchestra on tour from Alabama

Our Players Say

“All the fun in music is playing with other people – and the orchestra lets me do that. “

“We learn great music and it’s helped me technically more than I could have imagined.”

“I’ve met lots of people with similar interests.”

“Playing in an orchestra has helped me with theory and history of music.”

“Being in the orchestra is really fun.”

“If the MYO didn’t exist, I’d never have been a cellist – I would probably have quit by now.”